Steering-gear attachment



E. G. STAUDE.

STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, I918.

' Patented Mar. 9,1920;

j k E y M EDWIN G. STAUDE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

. STEERING-GEAR ATTAGHMEN '1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

Application filed May 27, 1918. Serial No. 236,778.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN G. STAUDE, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Gear Ate tachments, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for the steering gear of a power propelled vehicle to connect it wlth the brake bands and enable the driver to turn the machine in a smaller space or at a more acute angle than ordinarily has been possible in machines of this kind.

A further object is to provide a steering gear attachment capable of application to automobiles and trucks generally but particularly adapted for the Ford style of car.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter ctescnibeda nd particularly, pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the chassis of the car with my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a side view, showing the means of connection of the attachment with the brake rods and the steering gear cross rod,

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the coupling between the brake rod and the steering gear attachment,

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views showing the means for mounting the attachment on the steering gear cross rod.

In the drawing, 2 and 3 represent the forward and rear axles, having carrylng wheels l and 5. The spindles of the forward wheels h. ve the usual knuckle joints at 6, with arms 7 between which, extending across the machine, is a connecting rod or bar 8 for simultaneous movement of the wheels, as usual in machines of this type. At the rear of the machine are the usual brake drums 9 and the connections 10 for the brake straps and brake rods 11 extending forwardly from said connections to the depending arms 12 of a cross bar 13which is operated through themovement of a brake lever 14 in the usual way. The arms 12 fit within slots 15 provided in links 16 into one end of which the rods 11 are tapped, as at 17. The other ends of the links have eyes 18 formed thereon to receive the rear ends of rods 19 which extend. forwardly from said links and are mounted on the cross rod 8 by means of clamps composed of lower members 20 and 1 forward ends of the said rods 19 for longitudinal movement therein, said ends having nuts 25 for limiting such movement in one direction. These rods 19 will, of course, follow the movement of the cross rod 8 as the forward wheels are oscillated on a vertical axis to steer the machine and their position on the cross rods with respect to the vertical axis of the knuckle joints is such that when the wheels are oscillated one rod will be drawn forwardly to movethe brake, while the rod 19 on. the opposite side of the machine will be moved backwardly to impart a corresponding movement of its brake rod and release the brake on that side of the machine; One rear wheel, therefor, will be set and the other one released and the wheel that is set will form a fulcrum or bearin on which the machine can make a very s ort turn. Evidently the arms 12 fitting withiif the slots 15 will allow for such forwardand backward movement of the brake rods without the necessity of moving the brake lever. This invention is particularly applicable where an automobile is converted into a tractor, asthe driver can readily steerthe machine around a stump or tree or'otheu obstruction on the field and make a com- I do not confine myself to the particular means shown for connecting the steering rigging with the brake rods. Any suitable mechanism maybe employed for this purpose, the broad idea of my invention being the operation of one brake or the other through the oscillation of the forward wheels in steering the machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. The. combination, with a power propelled vehicle having forward and rear wheels and brakes for said rear wheels and a steering rigging for said forward wheels, of brake rods connected to said brakes and extending forwardly therefrom, meai'is'connected withsaid brake rods and ljaving a movable connection at their forward ends with said steering rigging, the movement of said steering rigging to oscillate said forpolled vehicle having wheels,

said rear wheels and brake rods connected ward wheels in one direction operatingsaid brake-rod to set the brake on one side of the machine and release it on the other and the movement of said steering rigging'to turn the machine in the other direction reversing. the movement of said brake rods.

The combination, with *a power pro-- pelled vehicle having forward and rear wheels and brake drums and bands for said rear wheels and a steering rigging .for said forward wheels, of brake rods connected 'to said brake bands and therefrom and having means with the brake lever, and means connected with said brake rods and having .a sliding connection at their forward ends with said steering rigging, the movement of said steering rigging to oscillate said forward wheels in one direction operating said brake rod to set the brake on one side of the machine and release it on the other, and the movement of said steering rigging to turn the machine in the other direction reversing the movement of said brake rods.

:5. The vcombination, with a power proforward and rear brake drums and brake bands for thereto, couplings connected to said brake rods, brake lever connections having a sliding bearing in said couplings and rods connet-ting said couplings with the steering rigging of said forward wheels, whereby movementof said steering rigging tooscillate said wheels in either direction will alternately set said brake bands.

4. The combination, with a power pro pelled vehicle having forward and rear carrying wheels and a steering rigging for said forward wheels, brake drums and bands for extendedforwardly c for connection 'pelled vehicle" having forward and said rear wheels and rods connected with said brake bands, couplings attached to said rods and-having means for connection with the brake lever, rods pivot-ally connected.

with said couplings and having a sliding hearing at their forward ends on the cross rod of said steering rigging,

said brake lever. v

I 5. The combination, with a power propelled vehicle having forward and rear carrying wheels and a steering rigging for said Stud. rear wheels and rods connected with said forward wheels'and brake devices for brake devices, couplings attached to said rods and having means for connection with a brake lever, rods pivotally connected to said couplings and having movable bearings on said steering rigging, oscillation of to oscillate said wheels in either direction will alternately set said brake bands.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May, 1918.

EDWIN G. STAUD'E;

oscillation of 7 said forward wheels to steer the machine setting the brake on one side'or the other of the machine independently of the movement of 

